WEST Auckland’s most famous celebrity is being celebrated in a new display at one of Darlington’s top venues.
Rondart, alias Ron Tomlinson, gained worldwide fame in the 1960s and 70s with his incredible ability to blow darts from his mouth with amazing accuracy.
His life and achievements are now being celebrated at a unique exhibition at Darlington’s Hippodrome.
The display has been created by Spring Gardens photographer Elaine Vizor whose late father Ronnie Pounder was a friend of the celebrity and gathered memorabilia, posters, photographs and newspaper cuttings from the height of his fame.
She said: “I’m preserving the artefacts for my father, as I know how much he wanted to save and share them. I’m sorry our attempts to show them were unsuccessful in his lifetime but I know it would please him to know that Rondart’s story is out there again.
“I find myself now, not only very protective of the artefacts, but also very compelled by Rondart’s story and I’m very keen to promote him and celebrate his life and place in variety and the history of darts. Variety is now a bygone era but in its heyday, Rondart was at the top of his game and the only dart blowing entertainer in the world.”
The display was previously shown at Bishop Auckland and both exhibitions have been visited by Rondart’s niece Maureen Woods.
She recalls a moment of his career in Northern Ireland with her cousin Charles at his parents’ hotel in Larne.
She said: “Uncle Ron got my cousin Charles up on stage. Charles was only ten but it was okay as Charles’s mam, Nan Towell, owned the L&Y hotel.
“After blowing the cigarette off our Charles’s head, Ron then got a guy to pick a card out of a pack, for instance the ten of hearts, the guy then said hit the top right-hand heart with your dart and Ron did just that.”
Hippodrome engagement officer Cait Barratt said it was an honour to host the display.
She added: “Darlington Hippodrome is so pleased to be working with Elaine to share the story of a local lad and his talent. The exhibition is a great nod to the theatre’s variety origins and showcases the wealth of great performers from the north east.”
Ms Vizor is keen to hear from anyone who has memories of Rondart or who knew him during his lifetime.
Email elaine.vizor@ gmail.com.
